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Alberta has reached a verbal agreement with the federal government over child care funding, Children's Services Minister Heather Forsyth says.
The province had argued against signing a funding deal, saying it wanted to take the money and create its own program.
Forsyth said Social Development Minister Ken Dryden has agreed that Alberta can allow parents the choice of either not-for-profit or for-profit day cares.
She said she's waiting to see the deal in writing.
"We have a verbal agreement from Minister Dryden and are just waiting for his letter of confirmation, which, once the bilateral agreement is signed, will bring $70 million into this province to deliver a service to the children of this province," Forsyth said.
The $70 million would come in the first year of the agreement.
The federal government has already signed day-care deals with Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
In its budget, the Martin government outlined a five-year plan calling for $5 billion to be spent on a national child-care program.
- reprinted from CBC News